Bristol Heroin Dealer With 'Illicit Pharmacy' Sentenced (ICYMI)

BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, PA — A heroin dealer who was busted with what a judge called "an illicit pharmacy" at his Bristol Township home has been sentenced to prison.

Michael Robert Ratti, 41, of the 7500 block of Ailanthus Lane, was sentenced Friday to serve 6 1/2 to 15 years in state prison by Bucks County Common Please Court Judge Wallace H. Bateman. Ratti had pleaded guilty to two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, and two counts of criminal use of a communications facility — all felonies.

"I think a lengthy period of supervision, given the history, is appropriate," Bateman told Ratti, noting the man's long history of drug convictions. "You've been involved with drugs for over 20 years."

Ratti admitted to selling heroin to a police informant on Jan. 24 and again on March 13. Police got a search warrant for his home on March 20 and, there, found he had heroin, marijuana and pills. Ratti directed police to his bedroom, where they found more marijuana, marijuana oils, edible marijuana, amphetamine salts, crack cocaine and heroin.

Bucks County prosecutors say Ratti would extract oil from marijuana and use it to make lollipops, candies and electronic cigarette cartridges.

"He pretty much runs the gamut," of drug sales, said deputy District Attorney Thomas C. Gannon. He called the candies and vape oils troubling, saying they make drug use more palatable for younger users.

Ratti's lawyer, public defender Ann Russavage-Faust, said Rattie sold drugs because he is struggling with addiction and noted that he cooperated with investigators and immediately admitted his guilt. But Bateman noted his history of drug-related crimes that dates back two decades.

"It's not just that you committed a crime, but you committed the same kind of crime," the judge said. "You were running an illicit pharmacy from your home. You're introducing drugs into the community … and you know how bad that is. You're addicted yourself."

The case was investigated by the Middletown Township Police Department.

Photo courtesy Bucks County District Attorney's office